Written by: Brandon Baney
For a league that only features three teams, the Inland Empire League sure is full of interesting storylines:
After advancing the 5A semifinals last season, can Lakeland take that next step and win their first championship since 1989?
What will Lewiston look like now that storied eight-man coach Zane Hobart has taken the reins of a program that finished 5-5 a year ago?
And can Sandpoint tighten up a defense that allowed more than 30 points per game during a 3-7 campaign in 2024?
LAKELAND
Mike Schroeder enters his fourth year in charge of the Hawks program with momentum on their side. Lakeland has gone 26-16 under Schroeder’s stewardship, with playoff appearances in all four years. But last year’s 9-3 run to the state semifinals took Lakeland to new heights.
“The team is very tight, and the culture is better for what I want as a team,” says Schroeder. “I’m excited to see how mature we are as a team.”
Senior Peyton Hillman returns for his second season as Lakeland’s starting quarterback. Hillman was pressed into QB duty as a sophomore because of injuries, then moved to wide receiver last year while Hayden Benson played under center. Now Hillman is back to run the ship for his senior season.
Hillman’s top wide receiver, senior Jace Taylor, also returns. But the focal point of Lakeland’s offense, 1,000 yard rusher Lovie Weil, is gone. Senior Peyton Sardinha is the top candidate to take over at running back, although Griffin Tamagni and Dre Smith will have their chances as well.
“We want to run the ball and control the time and flow of the game,” says Schroeder. “Peyton Hillman must be consistent and play well.”
Defensively, Lakeland only allowed 14 points per game in 2024. With standouts like Kenai Munyer, Ernie Steele, Will Peed and Sardinha anchoring the front seven, and Taylor and Tamagni leading the secondary, the Hawks defense should be stout again. “We pressure the quarterback well,” says Schroder. “Our defensive strength is our ability to keep offenses guessing. Our focus is to be the most physical team.”
LEWISTON
Due to lower-than-expected enrollment numbers, Lewiston moved down from Class 6A to Class 5A last season, and went 5-5 in their initial season at a lower level. The Bengals fell on the road to Twin Falls in the opening round of the playoffs, 31-9, and then saw head coach Matt Pancheri take a job closer to home in Rexburg at Madison High.
Replacing Pancheri is eight-man coaching legend Zane Hobart. In 12 seasons at Kendrick, Hobart’s teams went 96-27 and won four consecutive state championships from 2021 to 2024. It’s to forget after a decade-plus at Kendrick, but Hobart played high school football at Lewiston High, and knows the 11-man game just as well as the eight-man game.
Hobart is looking for new playmakers to emerge on offense, as quarterback Jeremy Yoder, running back Noah Carpenter, wide receiver Nathan King and tight end Cole Arlint all graduated. “We will look to spread the field and be as balanced as possible,” says Hobart. “Senior quarterback Mason Way has had a great summer and has athletes all around him to distribute the ball. We will look to get athletes in space to let them make plays.”
Way’s top targets this year will include seniors Gage Steiner and Jeffrey Yoder, and junior Michael Earl. Seniors Austin Topp and Sawyer Casey will spearhead the running back position. And senior Fletcher Wadsworth and junior Parker Bagley will lead the way on the offensive line.
Bagley will also feature heavily on Lewiston’s defense. He was named the IEL’s Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore in 2024 after a standout season at defensive end. “We need to get our feet underneath us early with new defensive coordinator Greg Frisbee,” says Hobart. “We want our kids to be comfortable so they can play fast and physical at the point of contact. Winning the line of scrimmage battle will be a focus.”
Lewiston is somewhat of a blank canvas entering 2025, with mostly new coaches and players looking to make their own imprint on the Bengals’ storied program. “I am really excited to see how our kids respond to some new coaches in the program and for new players to emerge as leaders and playmakers,” says Hobart. “The kids have had a great offseason working hard in the weight room and on the field. Their cohesion will be important as we continue to grow and build throughout the season.”
SANDPOINT
Sandpoint took a step back by their lofty standards a year ago. Injuries and attrition set in during a 3-7 season.
And yet, the Bulldogs still qualified for the 5A playoffs, falling to eventual state champion Hillcrest in the first round, 35-0.
15 impact seniors graduated, so head coach Ryan Knowles will have to thread a fine needle of working in several promising newcomers with a small nucleus of established returners.
Returning to lead the offense is senior quarterback Braden Buckhout. Buckhout saw time last season after starter Drew Lehman was injured early on. He will be paired with senior running back Jeremiah Palmer. Palmer was an All-IEL defensive end last year, and is moonlighting on offense this year, as well.
A talented group of wide receivers are headlined by 5A 200 meter champ Maverick Gomez. The senior will pair with junior Brock Yarbrough and senior tight end Darrin Flanigan to form a solid trio of targets.
Seniors Jeven Meyer, Isaac Jordan and Owen Hughes are all returning starters on the offensive line.
“We are balanced with a strong run game,” says coach Knowles. “We can give a defense multiple looks, including QB run. We want more explosive plays this year. Maverick can really take the top off. We want to loosen up the ‘D’ so our run game can be more effective.”
The Sandpoint defense has playmakers at all three levels. Palmer and Flanigan will are bookends on the defensive line, while Damian Porter and Yarbrough will lead the linebackers.
Senior safety Lucas Garrison is the only returning starter in the secondary, so the development of junior cornerbacks Trey Blumenberg and Devin McEneney will be critical.
“Our goals defensively are: 1. Eliminate big plays, and 2. Create more turnovers,” says Knowles. “During the last 4 or 5 games last year, we didn’t have a single TO.”